THE MARCH CONTINUED 123 



the village must be held. As we ride over the 

 bridge we may consider what means should be 

 taken for its defence. Should we have a bridge 

 head on this side or the other ? Would not those 

 houses be suitable for Infantry and that hill a bit to 

 the right for guns ? 



The river, — How deep is it, how wide, and 

 what is the rate of its current ? Are there any 

 boats about, and how many horses could water at 

 a time where the bank shelves down gradually 

 there ? Suppose we tried to swim it with hounds, 

 could our horse get out on the far side ? 



Swimming a river with a horse should not be 

 attempted unless the last is pretty certain, or the 

 result may be, as personal experience has proved, 

 that the horse gets out on one side and the rider on 

 the other! It of course goes without saying, that 

 no man should try this swimming with a horse 

 unless he is a thoroughly good swimmer himself, for 

 to swim even a few yards in hunting clothes (or 

 uniform) is by no means easy. 



We have already run over in our minds how the 

 village should be attacked or defended, and what 

 accommodation it would give ; but as we ride out 

 of it, there is one other point we may consider, and 

 that is, how should we act if, with a company, a 

 squadron, a battalion, or a cavalry regiment, we 

 were sent on ahead of the army, or whatever force 

 we were with, to occupy the village until they came 

 up; and with instructions also to collect any supplies 

 we could from it ? 



